India Players Face Heckling In Adelaide Open Training Session Amid Fan Excitement

India's open practice sessions for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide were called off after an incident involving fans. The Indian team was preparing for the second Test when the disruption occurred, leading to the cancellation of these sessions.

The decision to cancel open practices came after a chaotic scene unfolded during a public session in Adelaide. A large crowd of about 3,000 fans gathered, creating a lively atmosphere. However, some fans disrupted the four-hour session by heckling players and making constant requests for selfies. This made it difficult for key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant to concentrate. To ensure privacy and focus, the BCCI decided to make future sessions media-only.

A senior BCCI official shared with PTI that the situation was chaotic. "It was complete chaos. During the Australian training session, not more than 70-odd people turned up but during India's session, 3000 came. No one expected so many fans to turn up," they said anonymously.

In addition to this, there were reports of body shaming directed at a player while Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli were mobbed by fans. Despite the chaos, there is another perspective on what happened.

MyKhel reached out to a senior journalist in Adelaide who offered a different view on the incident. "Yes, there were a lot of fans in the India practice. But it was not heckling the players as they got excited seeing the star faces. Some odd fans were speaking loudly, while a few created a nuisance by body shaming, but none of the players were heckled," he told MyKhel.

The excitement among Indian fans in Adelaide might have been due to India's rare visits to Australia. However, body-shaming or disturbing players during practice is unacceptable. The inappropriate actions of a few individuals have tarnished the reputation of Indian supporters in Adelaide.

No New Restrictions on Open Sessions

Contrary to earlier reports, MyKhel understands that no new decisions have been made regarding open net sessions. Cricket Australia had already released a training schedule where only Tuesday's (December 3) practice was open to the public. Therefore, there are no new closed-door practices due to crowd issues in Adelaide.

The incident highlights how fan enthusiasm can sometimes cross boundaries and affect players' preparation. Ensuring respectful behaviour at such events is crucial for maintaining a positive environment for both players and supporters.